Can opener



p l 1935- I OLSCH EWSKI 1,999,370

CAN OPENER Original Filed Dec. 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY April 30, 1935. L. OLSCHEWSKI 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 CAN OPENER wiw I n lilmnm Original Filed Dc. 15, 1931 iIIiIJIEHIHH INVENTOR W ATTORNEY '7 Ap ,1935. 1.. OLSCHEWSKI 1,999,370 7 CAN OPENER Original Filed Dec. 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 X INVENTOR 7 BY CM ATTORNEY p i 30, 1935. L. QLSCHEWSKI 1,999,379

CAN OPENER Original-Filed Dec. 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i \INVEN o3 BYM ATTORNEY Fatented Apr. -3@, i935 meant rs caries can ensure Leo Olschewski, lllnion Township, Union County, N. .l'.

Application December 15, 1931, Serial No. 581,13

Renewed December i, 1934 12 Claims.

The object of the present invention is to pro vide a simple and efiicient can opener by means of which sealed cans such as contain-articles of food as well as other materials, may be quickly opened with little eifort and without any possibility of the user injuring the hands. The operator will not be injured either during the opening operation or when handling the can after it has been opened.

When a can is opened with my improved opener the edge of the 'cutmetal remaining on the can is smooth because the cut is made close to the wall of the can and the user will not injure the hands by grasping a raw or rough edge of the metal when handling the opened can.

With the present device the top-section of the can may be completely severed by a cut extending can only far enough to cut through the top and it will not project. into the contents of the can. The present device may be readily used for any shape of can. It may beused for opening .round cans, rectangular cans or cans of any other shape and the cut through the top wall will follow close to the vertical wall or walls regardless of their shape and the cutter will out in close to the vertical wall or walls of the can whether the can is circular, square, or any other shape.

The cutter is of the disk type, preferably circular, and is preferably in the nature of an idler so that it is not directly operated manually but by contact with the can. This cutter engages the top wall or bottom wall of the can just inside the end flange and follows the flange when making the cut, regardless of the shape of the flange whether it is circular, oval, rectangular or any other shape.

There are co-operating members which op erate preferably before and behind the cutting member to engage the can flange from the outside, both to control the relation of the can to the cutting memberjand assist in holding the can. These members and the cutting member are relatively yieldable. In the preferred construc ion these outside members include rollers which assist in supporting the can and they are yieldable independently. Also, in the preferred construction these members are yieldable in a rectilinear manner though this is only a preferred form and is not imperative.

In addition to the above features there is a feeding member for moving the can in relation to the cutter and this preferably consists of a toothed member which engages the bottom edge of the seam of the can and resists downward pressure of the cutting member. The teeth of the feeding member dig into the bottom edge of the can seam and as the feeding member is revolved it propels the can in relation to the cutting member until the can has been turned around completely in a horizontal plane and the 10 out has been completed. Where the can opener is stationarily mounted such as on a wall, table or other support, the can will be revolved but it will be obvious that if the opener is not so fixed and if the can is heavy or is held then the'opener may be propelled around the can instead of the can being revolved.

In addition to the above features, I have provided simple means for bringing the cutting memher into correct cutting position on the can and this means preferably operates also to cause the cutting member to make the initial cut through the end wall of the can. This avoids having to force the cutting member initially through the can wall directly by hand. Furthermore, this initial piercing operation is very easily performed and it avoids injury to the hands of the operator. The present device may be used in restaurants and hotels where a great many cans are to be openedrin the course of a day, but it is also economical to manufacture and it can therefore be used in the household where it is less frequently used. It is only necessary to place a can in position against the opener so that the end flange will engage the guiding member, 5 throw a lever over and then turn a crank until the entire top of the can has been severed. To

release the can the lever is thrown back. The present device supports the can during the opening operation.

The metal head is cut close against the vertical wall or walls, leaving a smooth finish, instead of leaving a rim projection partly across the top and the contents of'the can may be more readily removed and, in the case of solid food products they may be removed from the can without being broken. Other features and advantages will be set forth in the following detailed description of my invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a can opener containing my invention, showing the same attached to a wall,

Figure 2 is a similar view of the device as arranged to be held by hand,

Figure 3 is a detail assembly view of the cutter and its operating parts,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing how the feeding member engages the seam of the can,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the opener,

Figure 6 is an elevation of the cutter, the can holding members and the feeding wheel,

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the opener,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on. the line 9-4! of Figure 5,

Figure 10 is a plan view but showing the lever thrown over to place the cutter into operative position, the can being omitted in this View,

Figure ii is a sectional view showing the cutter in side elevation, in operative position and the can omitted,

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2-l2 of Figure '7,

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view showing the action of thecutter and the feed wheel.

Figure 14 is an inverted plan view on an enlarged scale showing the cutter, the feed wheel and the guiding rollers in their relation to the can during the cutting operation,

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the line l5l5 of Figure M, and

Figure 16 is a plan view of a can removed from the machine after the initial piercing of the can top by the cutter to show the angular relation of the cutter to thevertical wall of the can. The present opener may be stationarily mounted on a fixed support such as a wall or post or it may be held by hand; and I have shown both adaptations in the drawings. In Figure 1 I have shown the opener with its operating parts carried by a bracket l which .is shown attached to the supporting structure 2 by screws 3, so that the operating parts of the opener stand out away from the wall to leave space in which the crank and the lever may operate.

In Figure 2 I have shown the operating parts mounted on a handle 6 which may be gripped and held by one hand while the crank and lever are operated by the other, the can resting on a table or similar support 5 but not necessarily attached to it. In this construction the device is portable. In both constructions the operating parts are the same and in the remaining views of the drawings the wall supported structure only is illustrated.

The device is shown with the working parts mounted on a base 6 which is part of the bracket 5 in the first or wall device. On this base there is mounted a housing 1, held by means of the screws 8 and forming an enclosure for some of the movable parts.

There is a cylindrical, rocking support 9 which has a fixed plate l0 projecting below it and this plate extends into a slot H in the housing where it is rockingly supported upon a pin l2 fixed in the housing, so that the support 9 may oscillate from the pin l2 in a vertical plane to a rather limited extent. The support 9 has a bore l3 in which a shaft M has its bearing. There is a larger bore 65 in line with the first bore l3 and the enlargement l6 of the shaft has its bearing in this latter bore. There is a coiled spring I 1 surrounding the smaller portion id of the shaft and it is disposed in the bore l5 where it is compressed between the shoulder I8 of the shaft and the shoulder IQ of the supporting member 9 so that the spring tends to move the shaft to the left to the position shown in Figure 8.

There is a screw 20 threaded through the wall of the support 9 and the inner end of this screw forms a key which engages in the keyway 2| of the shaft to prevent the latter from revolving but allowing it to be shifted axially a limited extent in the support 9.

The shaft, therefore, may oscillate with the support 9 and it has a limited axial movement therein but it does not revolve.

The left hand end of the shaft as viewed in Figure 8 is formed with an enlarged head 22 the forward face 23 of which is shown as chamfered or out at an angle to the axis of the shaft to form an abutment for the cutting member, with the latter pitched downwardly. There is a stud 24 screwed into a tapped hole in the head 22 and it has a smooth portion on which the cutter 25 is mounted to revolve, the cutter being held from one side by the head 25 on the stud with its opposite face resting against the chamfered surface 23 of the head. -The cutter is of the disk type, having a circular cutting edge 2'! for piercing and cutting the end wall of the can; and with an inner surface 28 which extends perpendicular when the cutter is in action. To the right of the surface 28 there is formed another surface 29 on the cutter which stands horizontal when the cutter is in action and against this the very top edge of the can may press. It forms a kind of gauge to limit the extent. that the cutting edge 2'! penetrates the top wall of the can.

The back end of the support 9 is provided with, preferably, two cam surfaces 30 disposed at an angle to the axis of the shaft. There is a sleeve 3 which is revolvably mounted on the shaft M and it has fingers or projections 32 on one end which engage the cam surfaces so that when the sleeve is turned on the shaft the fingers travelling against the cam surfaces 39 will force the sleeve to the right in Figure 8 and when the sleeve is revolved in a reverse direction it may shift to the left.

The sleeve 3l' is mounted on the shaft in the following manner. The bore 33 of the sleeve fits onto or receives therein the reduced portion Id of the shaft. Near the right hand end of the sleeve there is 'a slightly larger bore 3% which receives therein a collar 35 which fits over the shaft and lies between it and the sleeve. The shaft N has a groove 36 in which a feather 3'1 carried by the collar 35 engages, so that the collar cannot turn on the shaft but the-sleeve may turn around on the shaft and collar. The outer end of the shaft i4 is reduced in diameter and is threaded to receive a nut 38 thereon, with a washer 39 disposed between the nut and one end of the collar. The nut and washer serve to hold the collar in position on the shaft, the feather 31 prevents the collar from revolving on the shaft, and the collar prevents the sleeve 3| from moving to the right in Figure 8 off the end of the shaft. It will be seen that the collar 35 is longer than the bore 33 and it projects at the end where it is engaged by the nut 38. By turning the nut more or less onto the threaded end of the shaft the sleeve may be shifted slightly along the shaft to adjust th: position of the cutter to take up for wear and to adapt it to can flanges of different thicknesses.

The sleeve 3| is shown as provided with a flange 40 against which a lever arm 4| is secured by screws 42 but it will be obvious that the lever arm may be made integral with the sl:eve. Its purpose is to revolve, or rather oscillate the sleeve,

for purposes which will appear hereinafter. The lever arm M is shown as abutting against a shoulder t3 of the housing to limit the thrust of the shaft, cutter and sleeve in one direction.

On the right hand end of the sleeve 3! there is formed a cam M which serves to rock the shaft to and the support 9 on the pin i2. This cam 4 engages a plate 35 which is preferably held up into normal position by resistible means which allow it to be pressed downwardly by excessive pressure. There is an extension of the housing shown at 18 and this has pockets 4W opening upwardly. The plate i is carried by hollow plungers it to which it is fixed, and the plungers move vertically in the pockets M, being held from moving out of them' by the bolts t9! threaded into the tops" of the plungers, their heads engaging the pockets from below. one end resting against the bottom of the pocket and the other end' pressing upwardly on the plunger to hold up the plate t5.

The holding devices which oppose the cutting member and engage the exterior of the can flange are as follows: These devices are both alike so the description will apply to both alike. They are preferably disposed to engage the can one- -just in advance of, and the other just behind the cutter.

The housing is provided with bores 5i in which the enlarged ends of the rods 52 slide. In each of these bores there is a coiledspring 53 surrounding the smaller or thinner portion of the rod 52 and compressed between the shoulder 54 of the rod and the rear wall of the housing. These springs tend to move the rods to the left to the position shown in Figure 9. The movement of the rod in one direction is limited by the pin 55 which passes through the rod 52. The ends of the pin projecting beyond the rod travel in the slots 53 of the housing. and prevent the rod from revolving. v

The outer end of each rod 52. has a fork consisting' of a lower, horizontal arm 54 and an upper arm 55 parallel therewith, the latter arm projecting a considerable distance to serve as a guide 4 for guiding the can into operative position.

There is a screw 56 passing through the arm 55 and threaded into the arm 54 and forming an axle for a roller 51 which is freely revolvable thereon. Each roller has a peripheral groove 58 near its upper 'edge to lie flush with the under surface of the guide 55. Each roller is resistibly pressed upwardly by a coiled spring 59 surrounding the screw 56 and lying in thebore 60 of the roller and compressed between the arm 54 and the top wall of the bore 63. Each roller, therefore, is urged by its spring into the position shown in Figure 9 but the roller is capable of being pressed downwardly on the screw 56 to a limited extent.

As stated above, these pressing devices are arranged to engage the flange of the canone just in advance of the cutter and the other just-behind it. They are independently retractible and the rollers 51 are pressed toward the can by their respective springs 53. j

Feeding device.-The housing .a bore 8| in which a second shaft 52 is journaled so that it lies below and in line with the cutter shaft I4. There is a toothed feedingmember 63 mounted on one end of this. shaft and fixed to it by a pin 64 passing through the shaft and through the hub of the toothed member. The other end of the shaft 62 (right hand end in Figure 8) is shown as reduced, and secured thereon by a set screw 53 is a crank 54. By means of this crank There is a coiled spring 5% in each pocket,

is provided with the shaft 62 and also the feeding member 83 may be revolved.

The toothed member 63 revolves on a horizontal axis with its outer face parallel with the vertical wall of the can. Preferably, the teeth 65 of this member are pitched or slanted forwardly somewhat like saw teeth so that they will bite into the bottom of the can seam and propel it along. These teeth are preferably rather wide apart to provide ample surface 66 between them for the can seam to rest against.

In Figure it I have shown part of the upper portion of a can being opened. It includes the vertical walls 61, a top wall 58 and a seam 69 of ordinary form uniting the vertical and top walls. The seamed portions form a flange iii projecting at the end of the can and the seam forms a shoulder it outside the can for the feed roller to engage.

Operation Referring to the device shown in Figure 1 and the remaining figures, except Figure 2, the operation will be as follows: Before presenting a can to the device, the lever arm iltwwill be in the position shown in Figure 5. During this condition the cutter is held in a raised position and it is separated or moved forwardly in relation to the pressure rollers 57. A can such as is shown in Figure 12, which is of rectangular shape, with rounded corners, may be applied to the opener by placing one of the rounded corners of the can between the cutter and the two rollers 51 as shown in Figure 12, so that the upper edge of the flange 1 of the can rests against the under surfaces of the two arms 55 and the outwardly projecting portion of the can seam 69 extends into the grooves 58 of the pressure rollers.

The outer. surface of the vertical walls of the can adjacent the corner will rest against the faces of the rollers 51 and the cutter will be spaced apart from the rollers 51 and lie in a raised position to allow the can to be applied against the pressure and guide rollers 51 in the manner described. The

bottom edge H of the can seam will lie just over theouter end of the feed roller 63. While the can is held in thisposition the operator swings the lever arm 4! from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position'shown in Figure 1, making approximately half a revolution. This movement of the lever arm 4| revolves the sleeve 3! During the first portion of this movement the fingers 32 which are on the sleeve 3| travel against the cam surfaces 30, the latter being part of the holder 9, so that the first part of the turning movement of the sleeve 3| causes this sleeve to be shifted toward the right, as shown in Figure 10, until the fingers 32 move to the tops of the cam surfaces 30 and come to rest against the right hand end ofthe member 9. This axial shifting motion of the sleeve 3| acts through the sleeve 35 and the washer 39 and the nut 38 to move the shaft 14 to the right in Figure 8. As this shaft carries the head 22 and the cutter, the latter is moved toward the inner side of the flange 10 of the can. so that the cutting edge 21,

of ths roller is pressed against'the inner side ofthe flange l0.

The rollers 51 pressing against the outer surface of the flange of thecan and the cutter with its edge 21 pressing against the inner side of the can flange, serve to tightly grip the can and support it so that the operator does not necessarily have to hold the can until the cutting operation is finished. The cutter presses the outer portion tion in the machine.

of the can seam against the end face of the feed roller63. In addition the feed roller 63 engaging under the edge H of the can seam also assists in supporting the can.

About the time that the fingers 32 ride up on the can surfaces 30 the sleeve 3! will have turned to a position where the rise of the cam Mon the end of this sleeve begins to act on the plate 35 and to exert an upward pressure on the right hand end of the sleeve M. This will cause the sleeve 3i and the shaft it, as well as the support 9, to rock or tilt on the pin 52, so that the cutter will move downwardly a slight extent and sufficiently to cause the cutting edge to make the initial cut through the top wall of the can, as shown in Figure 13.

The plate G5 is subject to being pressed downwardly a slight extent by the cam (it, so that the downward pressure of the cutter is sufficient to initially force it through the top wall of the can with the edge 2i of the cutter pressing against the inside of the flange lii, but beyond that point the parts might be injured if the action of the cam 44 were positive and unyielding. The plate 45, therefore, is subject to being pressed downwardly against the action of the springs in order that the movement of the cutter may terminate at a point which will not injure the feed roller.

' The lever ii remains in the position shown in Figure 10 until the cutting operation has been completed. As soon as the lever M is moved into this position, the operator may proceed to.revolve the crank 64 in a clockwise direction. This will revolve the shaft 62 and with it the feed wheel 63 will revolve. As the teeth of this wheel engage the bottom edge H of the seam of the can, as the crank 65 is revolved, the feed wheel 53 will act on the flange of the can and cause the can to revolve. As the can revolves, the cutter acting as an idler cuts along the top wall of the can close against the flange It, as shown in Figures 13 and 15. The friction of the flange of the can causes the cutter to revolve so that its cutting edge 2'? severs the top wall of the can.

it will be noted that the two pressure and guide rollers 5'? are pressing on the outside of the can seam to hold the inner side of the flange iiiup to the cutting edge 27 of the cutter, so that the cutting action takes place at the bottom of the flange Hi and close to the vertical walls 61 of the can.

The feed roller 83 causes the can to move around between the rollers 57 and the cutter until the cutter has severed the wall 58 all around and to the point of beginning; and when this cut is completed, the top 68 may be lifted out of the can and the latter will still remain held in posi- It will be noted that the rollers 51 are 'retractible against the opposition of the springs 53, whereas the position of the cutting member is not subject to material change. These rollers 51, therefore, will accommodate themselves by moving back and forth to conform with the shape of the can; that is to say, if a circular can is being opened, the rollers 57 will remain at substantially the same relation to the cutting member throughout the cutting operation, buton the other hand, where a square can is being cut, as shown in Figures i 2 and i3, the rollers 51 will move back and forth under the action of the springs 53 so that they remain in contact with and press against the outer portion of the can seam, notwithstanding the fact that the flange 10 has a shape other than circular. In

neeastc Figure 12 I have illustrated how these rollers move outwardly to remain in contact with the straight portions of the flange 10, while the rounded corner is passing the cutting member and the feed roller. During the opening operation the projecting portion of the can seam travels in the grooves of the pressure rollers so that these rollers assist in supporting the can.

The rollers 57 are pressed upwardly toward the arms by their coiled springs 59 so that the top edge of the flange '10 of the can is continually pressed against the horizontal surface 29 of the cutter. Thus the edge of the cutter extends downwardly during the entire opera tion a sumcient distance to insure its cutting through the top wall 68 as shown in Figure 13. The feed wheel 53 also assists in holding the top edge of the flange Iii against the surface 29 of the cutter so that the can may not move 'downwardlyand escape the cutting action of the cutter.

As above described, the crank 86 is turned until the feed wheel 63 has revolved the can completely around so that the cutter has severed the entire wall 68. When the cutting operation has been completed, the operator will take hold of the can with one hand and will throw the lever at back to the position shown in Figure 5 with the other hand. The throwing back of the lever ii will cause two functions to be performed. First, the cam 44 will turn on the plate 45 until the lower portion of this cam engages the plate and this will allow the shaft M, the holder 9 and the parts associated therewith, to rock downwardly at the right hand end in Figure 8, and thus allow the cutter to swing upwardly from the cutting position. The second part of this return motion of the lever arm 4| causes the pins or fingers 32 to travel down the can surfaces 30 and as this action takes place, the spring l5, acting against the shoulder I8, will move the shaft i 4 axially to the left in Figure 8, thus moving the cutter inwardly of the can or away from the flange 10. When the lever arm 4| has been thrown completely over the can will no longer be held between the cutter and the pressure rollers 51, and it may be lifted off the device.

It will be found that the interior of the can is smooth and will not cut the hands if gripped at any part of the flange 10 because the cut was made close up to the surface of the member 10. It is also to be noted that the cutter operates to cut through the wall 68 without severing any chips of metal, so that no chips will enter the can as a result of the cutting operation. This is a very desirable feature because it is very dangerous to have metal chips falling into the contents of the can, especially if the contents should be a food product. The present device causes no chips whatever. The above completes the can opening operation and the machine remains in the condition to which it was returned until another can is to be opened, whereupon all of the operations above described are repeated.

The arms 55 serve as guides, so that the operator may press the upper edge of the can against the under sides of these arms, and then shift the can horizontally against these arms, until it comes to rest against the pressure rollers 51.

It will be apparent from the above that the cutter has a horizontally lying surface 29 where it is engaged by the top edge of the can flange. The cutter is moved with the shaft I 4 in the direction of the axis of this shaft to move the cutter laterally against the flange 10 of the can in order to grip the latter between the utter and the pressure rollers 51 and between the outer end face of the roller 63. Also, the cutter is rocked with the shaft M on the pin l2 as a result of the action of the cam M, in order that the cutter will be forced initially through the top wall of the can and the edge of the cutter will, therefore, project below the normal plane of the top wall 6% of the can until the cutting operation is completed;

In some cases the cans are provided with a vertical seam which runs along the vertical wall of the can and also through the seam 69. When the cutter approaches the projection formed by such a seam the rollers 5' will yield under the action of the springs 53 and allow the enlargement in the seam of the cam to pass the cutter instead of jg against it, or being cut through by it.

The cutter acts as an idler and is propelled by contact of the can against the surface 29 of the cutter instead of the cutter. being directly and manually operated. The depth of the seams of ordinary cans is quite uniform so that the distance between the top of the seam is which engages the surface 29 of the cutter and the bottom edge H which is engaged by the feed roller is quite uniform in most cans, but any slight variation will not interfere with the operation of the present device because the feed rollerforms an abutment on the lower edge if of the cam seam and if the top seam should not be perfectly or uniformly spaced from the edge i l, the cutter may rise and fall slightly to accommodate itself to the top edge of the seam 6d. This accommodation or automatic adjustment may take place by the top of the seam t8 pressing upwardly against the surface 29 of the cutter and forcing the shaft I f to rock slightly. In this case the cam Ml presses downwardly on the plate 45 and causes the latter to move downwardly a slight extent in opposition to the springs 50. By reason of this automatic adjustment there is no injurious strain applied against the feed roller 63, nor against the cutter nor the shaft M on which it is carried.

If at any time it is found that when the lever arm M is moved completely over to the position shown in Figure 1, that the edge 21 of the cutter does not press snugly against the flange 10 of the held by one hand to hold the can opener in proper relation to the can in this figure, while the opening operation is being performed. The bottom of the can may rest on the table 5 in order that the operator will not have to support the can with the opener. In all other respects the device is constructed and operates the same as the device shown in Figure 1 and other figures of the drawings.

Looking at the cutter as viewed in Figures 13 and 15 it has a pitch or is angularly disposed withrelation to the axial line of the shaft H and I have found that if this angle is 30 the best results may be obtained. Viewing the cutter as in Figures 5 and 14, it will be notedthat it is pitched in relation to the axis of the shaft l4 and I have found that if this angle of inclination of the cutter is 9 (or between 9 and 13) the cutter works to the best advantage. This angular disposition of the cutter permits it to be so disposed in relation to the flange of the can that the cutting edge will cut the top wall of the can close up to the flange, where the top wall will be less likely to bend and it causes the cutter to so operate that there is no metal left of the top wall. This angular position of the cutter also insures clearance behind the cutting edge of the cutter during the cutting operation.

Furthermore, the angular disposition of the cutter shown and described brings the actual point of cutting nearly in line with the axis of the shaft M, which improves the action of the cutter.

axis of the shaft M and adjacent the end face of the feed roller 63. The outer surface of the verticalwall of the can is pressed against this outer orend face of the feed roller.

In Figure 16 I have shown a plan view of a can withdrawn from the machine after the initial incision has been made by the cutting member and before the can begins to rotate. In this view the cut '13 made by the cutting tool illustrates the angle of the cutting edge in relation to the can head and the can seam and it shows how the cutter is inclined as above described so that the cutter points slightly inward toward the inner surface of the member 10. This angular relation of the cutter to the can is preserved during the entire cutting operation. 1 i

I I have shown and describeddn great detail what I deem to be the preferred form of my invention but I desire to include all changes, modifications and variations of the invention which come within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I iclaim is:

1. A can opener including can feeding means engaging the exterior ,of the can to propel the same in relation to a cutter, a rockable support, a shaft movable therewith and adapted to be moved axially, a revolvable cutter carried by said shaft and adapted to be positioned inside the end flange -of a can and to cut the end wall of the can adjacent saidflange, cam means for moving said shaft axially to move the cutter laterally toward the can flange, cam means for rocking said support to cause the cutter to make the initial incision in the top wall of the can, and common means for operating said cam means. 1

2. In a can opener including can feeding means engaging the exterior of the can to propel the same in relation to a cutter, a rockable support, a shaft movable therewith and adapted to be moved axially, a revolvable cutter carried by said shaft and adapted to be positioned inside the end flange of a can and to cut the end wall of the can adjacent said flange, cam means for moving said shaft axially to-move the cutter laterally toward the can flange, cam means for rocking said support to cause the cutter to make the initial incision in the top wall of the can, means for adjusting the position of said shaft in relation to said support to regulate the final position of said outter, and common means for operating said cam means.

3. A can opener including revolvable can feeding means having a fixed position and engaging the exterior of a. can to propel the same in relation to a cutter, independently yieldable means pressing against the exterior of the can before and behind the position at which the feeding means engages the can, a revolvable cutter adapted to 'be positioned inside the end flange of the can The cutting takes place about at the" point A in Figure 14 or just to one side of theand to cut the top wall of the-can adjacent said flange, a rockable support, a shaft carried by said support and movable axially therein, a cam device for moving said shaft axially to move the cutter toward the can flange, cam means for rocking said support to cause the cutter to make theinitial incision in the top wall of the can, and a lever for operating both said cam means.

4. A can opener having a can propelling wheel adapted to engage the flange of a can, and means for operating said wheel to revolve the can, a support, a revolvable disc cutter mounted on said ,support and adapted to lie inside the flange of the can in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange, said cutter being horizontally inclined whereby its cutting edge will lie adjacent said flange at one point and extend inwardly therefrom at such an angle to the flange of the can that said cutter will sever the can head close to said flange of the can and whereby clearance is provided for the cutter behind the point of cutting.

5.,A can opener having a propelling wheel adapted to engage the flange of a can, and means for operating said wheel to revolve the can, a support, a revolvable disc cutter mounted on said supportand adapted to lie inside the flange of the can in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange, said cutter being inclined from the vertical when in cutting position, and said cutter being inclined horizontally whereby its cutting edge will lie adjacent said flange at one point and extend inwardly therefrom at such an angle to the flange of the can that said cutter will sever said can head close to said flange and whereby clearance is provided for the cutter behind the point of cutting.

6. A can opener having a propelling wheel adapted to engage the flange of a can, and means for operating said wheel to revolve the can, a support, a revolvable disc cutter mounted on said support and adapted to lie inside the flange of the can in position to cut the head of the can adjacent the flange, said cutter being inclined from the vertical when in cutting position, and said cutter being inclined horizontally whereby its cutting edge will lie adjacent said flange at one point and extend inwardly therefrom at such an angle to the flange of the can that said cutter will sever said can head close to said flange and whereby clearance is provided for the cutter behind the point of cutting, resilient means for pressing said disc cutter axially and away from said propelling roller-and a cam for moving said cutter toward said feeding means.

7. A can opener having a propelling wheel having a toothed periphery, said wheel being mounted with its end face opposed to the vertical wall of the can and with its toothed periphery disposed to engage under the flange at the outside of the can, means for operating said wheel to revolve the can, a vertically oscillatable support, a shaft carried by said support and adapted to be shifted in the direction of its length, a revolvable cutter disc carried by said shaft and arranged to lie inside the flange of the can, said cutter disc being adapted to hold an adjacent portion of the can against the end face of said propelling wheel, said cutter disc being inclined horizontally whereby its cutting edge will lie adjacent the flange oi the can at one point and extend inwardly therefrom at such an angle to said flange that said cutter will sever the can head close to said flange and whereby clearance is provided for the cutter behind the point of cutting, and cam means for moving said shaft axially to move the cutting disc toward the end face of said feed roller, and v to rock said shaft to cause the cutting disc to pierce the head of the can.

8. A can opener including a frame, a revolvable cutter disc supported by said frame and arranged to act upon the can head inside the end flange of the can, and means for revolving the can in relation to said cutter, said cutter being so positioned that its cutting edge will lie adjacent the flange of the can at one point only and extend inwardly therefrom at such an angle to the flange of the can that said cutter will sever the can head close to the can flange and clearance will be provided for the cutter behind the point of cutting.

. 9. A can opener including a frame, a propelling wheel having a toothed periphery, said wheel being mounted with its end face opposed to the vertical wall of the can and with its toothed periphery disposed to engage under the flange from the outside of the can, means for operating said wheel to re-volve the can, a movable mounting on said frame, a revolvable disc cutter carried by said mounting, means for operating said mounting to move the cutter toward the end face of said propelling wheel, and a plurality of spring pressed plungers disposed before and behind the point of cutting of said cutter, said plungers being arranged to have rectilinear movement and having means for pressing against the outer portion of the can to move the latter in opposition to said cutter.

10. A can opener including a frame, a propelling wheel mounted thereon and having a toothed periphery. said wheel being mounted with its end face opposed to the vertical wall of the can and with its toothed periphery disposed to engage underthe flange from the outside of the can, means for operating said wheel to revolve the can, a shaft, a revolvable disc cutter carried by said shaft and arranged to lie inside the flange of the can, said cutter disc being adapted to hold an adjacent portion of the can against the end face of said propelling wheel, said disc cutter being inclined horizontally in relation to said shaft so that its cutting edge will he adjacent the flange of the can at one point and extend inwardly therefrom at such an angle to said flange that said cutter will sever the can head close to said flange and whereby clearance is provided for the cutter behind the point of cutting, means for moving said shaft in the direction necessary to move the cutter disc toward the end face of said feed roller, and spring actuated plungers arranged before and behind the point of cutting and adapted to press the can in opposition to said cutting disc.

11. A can opener, including can feeding means engaging the exterior of the can to propel the same in relation to a cutter, a rockable support, a shaft movable therewith and adapted to be moved axially, a revolvable cutter carried by said shaft and adapted to be positioned inside the end said flange, spring pressed plungers arranged be- I fore and behind said cutter and operating to press the flange of the can toward the cutter, said plungers having rollers to engage the ex- 5 t erior of the can with the peripheries of the rollers parallel with the outer wall of the can, said rollers having peripheral grooves to receive the flange of the can therein, said rollers being mounted to permit vertical movement thereof, and springs for normally pressing said rollers upwardly.

. LEO OLSCHEWSKI. 

